A path immediately parted as Rhys carried the unconscious young woman through the sitting room, the crowds watching on with murmurs flitting all around them, stabbing at Rhys as his back tense and he hastened towards the stairway, attempting to shield the woman from their unjust comments of the evening's course of events.
Grace appeared and took the lead, stepping in front of him and into a guest room that already had servants bustling to pull the covers down and light a fire, a bowl of water set down at the head of the bed and cloths to wipe the sweat from the woman's face. "Lay her gently on the bed, brother" Grace instructed him and he laid her against the soft bed, his arms brushing by her overly warm body as he pulled away, his chest shuddering on a breath filled with an emotion he was not prepared to exam.
He looked on as the maids worked at laying strips of wet cloths against her forehead, he could now finally take a moment to look at her properly, she laid soundlessly and still as a corpse, his heart squeezing at the sight of her pale face. Her features were sharply exaggerated by how drawn she was even when totally at rest. She was beautiful, his head tilted to the side with the realization of how stunned he was by her. A crown of brown curls styled around her head, her sunken cheeks held charming freckles and her mouth was tempting as subtle breaths passed through the slight parting of her lips. He was deprived of seeing the shocking paleness of her wide, blue eyes but thick, dark lashes fanned across her cheeks. As he took her in it was apparent to him that she was far too thin, her collarbone sticking out and the delicate bones at her wrists and elbows reminding him on the hunger he had seen take those effected by the famine of battles, still he had to admit she had was a tempting and endearing beauty, the kind that could bring men to their knees and drive a man wild with the desire for her to love him.
His head jerking back in surprise at his train of thoughts.
He was pushed away from her while Grace shouldered her way past him, moving to kneel by the bed, dipping a strip of cloth into the water and gently stroking the woman's lovely and yet tired face. "Oh, Wendy " his sister whispered down to the woman, worry wrinkling her brow as she twisting a curl away from Wendy's face and laid it softly against the pillow by her head. "I should have insisted I could see you were unwell." Guilt choked her as she sniffled into a hand she lifted to her chest.
Wendy, knowing her name had warmth spreading through his chest, unconsciously leaning forward to gaze down at her again. He had a sudden eagerness to know everything there was to know about this Wendy, her favorite things, or things she hated, her opinion on all matter and range of things, his heart thudded painfully against his ribcage and he staggered a step back. He was not known for falling head first into anything and yet he was unwaveringly certain of two things at that very moment; he'd give this woman whatever she asked of him and he'd spend the rest of his life to do it.
"Rhys" Ian called out to him the moment he walked into the room, a physician hot on his heels, who immediately got to work checking Wendy's pulse. Rhys nodded in a jerky movement and followed Ian out of the room with right when the two young, blonde girls that he had seen in the garden rushed past him then door was shut, cutting his view of the chaos ensuing "Her sisters" Ian said in little way of explanation as Rhys continued to stare at the door long after closed.
Another wordless nod and Rhys wondered if he was in shock as he trailed behind Ian down the winding stairs and off to the side of the party, where they entered his study, the wigged man who had previously stood with the vile woman who claimed Wendy as her daughter was seated a bit too comfortably at Ian's desk and failed to stand as they came into the room, drinking heavily from a cup that he slammed onto the solid wood, his sleeve used to wipe the dribble from his wine stained lips and a servant rushing forward to refill as he brandished the goblet his way. His already round chest puffed out and his face turned an alarming red, spittle flying towards them at his slurred exclamation "That man dishonored my daughter!" Rhys could barely hold back the snarl rising in chest with an unconscious step forward, his fist curling at his side. His claimed daughter lay unwell in the home of a random noble and yet her father seemed to have never been more relaxed than he currently was, servants at his beck and call and acting with airs not allotted to him.
"I did naught but save her life, gasping for air as she could not breathe." His own rarely provoked anger was rising at the accusation the man was laying at his feet. He would never disgrace a lady in such a way and certainly not this lady, in just one fleeting moment, a desperate time of need and fear she had grabbed ahold of his heart and attention firmly, he would fight to protect her in name and person.
"And this caused you to rip her clothes from her, Sir?!" The man exclaimed, showing little restrain as his wig askcewed atop his grey head of curls "She is now ruined for all of society! No respectable man in the Capital will marry a woman who has been used so by another man and now you plan of nothing but discarding her after your crimes?!" Rhys felt his head throb while clenching his jaw tightly, his molars grinding at the man's shrill voice carrying on, he knew he must look murderous when Ian laid a hand against his forearm.
"Sir, do not suggest that the Duke has taken advantage of your daughter so casually." Rhys could see the man gulp slightly at the cold tone Ian addressed him with, the bright features Ian displayed were often offset by an aura of seriousness about him that intimidated others. "I am sure many of us saw that your daughter seemed quite unwell from the moment she arrived and I am also sure the actions taken were only to save your daughter and further acted upon with no other motive in mind."
"What would you have me say to my daughter once she learns of what has taken place?" He seemed to regain his indignation "How am I to explain to her that she was so carelessly exposed by some fool of a man thinking himself a hero? How am I to explain she may not only never marry now but her reputation will be ruined beyond any hope of recovery?!" He shook his head as he suddenly stood and paced back and forth "No! I shall not have this! You shall marry her! You will correct this wrong you have committed against my daughter or I shall see you hold by the Royal court!" He slammed his fist against the desk and more spittle flew from his lips.
"You jest, sir" Ian laughed coldly at the absurdity of the demand "He has just saved the life of you daughter and yet you threaten to drag not only him but your own daughter through a public display, it is laughable to think you would win such a matter."
"I only ask for him to right what he has done!" There was a mad look to his eyes that shone with greed as they stared each other down. Rhys had been through enough battles to know when your jugular had been exposed and Wendy's father could see right now that the Duke had a bleeding heart for his daughter. Though defeat was not a familiar taste to him, he could admit only to himself that his thoughts remained on the beautiful woman that lay ill and vulnerable in his sister's guest room, her father had shown an enormous lack of thought for what she would have to go through in a court hearing even though Rhys knew the man would not win, he would not expose her to such ridicule.
"Let it be so, I will marry her." Rhys spoke in a low but firm tone, as soon as the words left his lips Ian turned to look at him, an uncommon questioning look shot in his direction while Rhys questioned his own sanity. What was he doing? He knew nothing of this woman really, had exchanged fewer words with her than the servant pouring them drinks before she fainted away in his arms, yet something inside of him was screaming at him not to return her to this man, an instinct he had never ignored before and he wasn't starting today, no matter how crazy the idea seemed.
"You'll marry her without a dowry" the man leaned forward over the desk, eagerness furling his lips into a sinister smile, disgust filling Rhys at the thought of a father who would only pretend to worry about his daughter in an attempt to be rid of her at no expense to his own pockets.
It was then Rhys realized who he was now, the Earl of Folly, a gambling, drunk who came from old, quickly dwindling money. The Earl before him had been one of extreme economy, his son being everything his father was not. He had seen him being thrown out of the clubs more often than not, and the scandals of mistresses and illegal fighting matches set the tongues of gossips alight, they were all waiting for the day he would dig his hole too deep and be thrown into the debtors prison. Rhys had not been aware however, that the lecherous man had a daughter, let alone three. It made sense that Wendy was unmarried, despite her beauty any man with a thought to his own reputation would not link himself to such a man, and any fortune hunter worth their salt would know that the Earl was close to ruin.
"I do not require a dowry." Rhys feeling angrier by the second, he wanted to take the beautiful woman away from this family who obviously cared little for her.
The Earl grinned a slimy grin and stuck his hand out for the Duke to shake, Rhys stared at the Earl, dismissing his hand as he turned on his heel to leave the study "Have your people prepare the papers you need to release yourself from payment of her dowry, I will call on you tomorrow to sign and we will be married as soon as I have secured the license." Rhys finished speaking while striding from the room as though it were on fire, his anger rolling off of him in tidal like waves.